The Effect of Motor Dual -Task Balance Training on Balance and Gait of Elderly Women

BACKGROUND: Aging in its broadest sense is the continuous and irreversible decline in the efficiency of various physiological processes. India has second largest number of elderly (60+) in the world. One of the most common problems of elderly is fall. They are the cause of accidental death among people over 65 years of age and account for significant mortality and morbidity, including fractures, impaired mobility and decreased quality of life due to fear of falling and death. Balance is dynamic phenomenon that requires stability and mobility to be a good harmony and in order to properly maintain body balance, the ability to integrate the neurological and musculoskeletal system is important. Balance control is a necessary component of stable walking. Dual-task training is defined as the ability to perform two or more cognitive and motor activities simultaneously while maintaining postural control. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To study the effect of motor dual-task balance training on balance and gait of elderly women. METHODOLOGY: Thirty females were randomly selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria and was divided into two groups – Group 1: Experimental group and Group 2: Control group. Both the groups were assessed for the berg balance scale and dynamic gait index. These parameters were assessed before the start of the program as pre-test values and at the end of 6 week as post-test values. Group 1 received motor dual task balance training and Group 2 conventional balance and gait training. RESULT: The mean age of group 1 was 67.4 years and group 2 was 67.07 years. The statistical analysis correlates the study by proposing that groups taken for study either group1 treated motor dual task balance training and Group 2 conventional balance and gait training.and also showed that group 1 treated with motor dual task balance training had higher significance when compared to group 2 treated with conventional balance and gait training. The mean improvement in BBS was 13.74 in group 1 and 10.66 in group 2. The mean improvement in DGI scores was 6.47 in group 1 and 3.73 in group 2. It was resulted that group 1 received motor dual task balance training had a superior effect over group 2 received conventional balance and gait training. CONCLUSION: This study concluded that motor dual task balance training had effective tool in improving balance and gait control and decreases tendency of falls in elderly women. KEY WORDS: Fall, Elderly, Balance, gait, BBS, DGI, motor dual task balance training, conventional balance and gait training.